Daniel Taylor and the Scepter of Power (12 page)

That bitch had no feelings at all! How could Daniel have imagined anything else? She wanted to go after the scepter!

“Dad!” Daniel ran to his father, who was kneeling behind the throne next to Marla, breathless and sweating. She was panting and had difficulty recognizing them through all the blood in her eyes. Obron crouched down beside them and tried to save his daughter, or at least to give her his energy so that she could heal, but he was too weak. The fight had sapped all of their resources.

Daniel was surprised. Obron had a heart?

Before he could puzzle over this any further, his mind turned back to Sirina. Daniel shook James’ shoulder and pointed to the portal closing behind her. “Dad, we have to stop her!”

James shook his head. “She’s on the wrong track.”

“But … the Statue of Liberty! Xandros saw it!”

“Yes, he did. That was just a decoy.”

A decoy? Daniel didn’t understand. But he trusted his father.

Marla’s breathing grew ever more labored. She wanted to say something, but only a gurgling sound came from her throat. More blood ran from her mouth. Mike held her hand and sobbed quietly while Obron cursed. “I’m powerless against Xandros’ poison,” the demon finally said.

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Vanessa came out from behind the throne and threw herself into Daniel’s arms. He was overjoyed to have her back. Xandros was dead, and she was safe. They could all get out of here!

As he held Vanessa tight, he looked over her shoulder at Marla. He carefully let Vanessa go, took her hand, and knelt down next to his sister. His heart had just been soaring, but now it was suddenly heavy again. Marla’s body writhed in pain, and her eyelids fluttered.

Crouching down next to him, Vanessa cried bitterly. “If only I had listened to you and hadn’t gone dancing, none of this would have happened.”

Daniel tried to stroke her back soothingly, but his hand was shaking too badly. “They would have found another way. Don’t blame yourself.”

Marla lay twitching at their feet. Daniel pulled the amulet out, becoming visible, and took his sister’s hand. She was cold to the touch, but her pulse was still steady. Xandros’ poison definitely ensured a slow death for its victims.

Daniel tried to swallow the knot in his throat.
You’re a fighter, you can make it
, he sent her telepathically. She could recover from Xandros’ spell. She just needed energy!

No, she needs more than that …
he heard a quiet voice say in his mind. That wasn’t Marla! Daniel looked up. The others seemed not to have heard it; they were discussing how they could help his sister.

Suddenly, he saw a ghostly presence in the furthest corner of the hall, where no torch was burning. A white-haired woman with unusually bright eyes was standing there; next to her, there was a cheetah, its fur as white as her hair. Who was that? The woman waved sadly, as if to say goodbye.

“The scepter …” Daniel heard her whisper. “It’s Marla’s only hope.” Then the two figures dissolved into nothingness.

Of course! “The scepter can heal Marla!” he cried. Everyone looked at him.

Obron turned to James and said soberly, “If you save my daughter, I’ll leave all of you alone.”

James raised his eyebrows. “How can I believe that? You hate me. I took your wife away, and with her your chance to create a pure-blood successor to the throne who could fully exploit the power of the scepter.”

A shadow flitted across Obron’s face. “Yes, and I wanted to make you pay for that. But I will spare you and your family if you save Marla.”

“Why is she so important to you?” James asked. “You wanted to kill her! That’s why Kitana ran away from you!”

“Yes, perhaps I wanted that. At first,” Obron whispered, lowering his head. “But my daughter is all that I have left of Kitana.”

Daniel was surprised. Had Obron actually loved Kitana? Then not all demons were emotionless creatures!

James put his hands under Marla’s limp body and lifted her. “Swear to me that you won’t follow us to get the scepter.”

Obron nodded. “You have my word.”

“A portal would be helpful,” James said to the group. “I don’t have the energy to teleport us all, and Marla needs help fast.” His gaze fell on Daniel. “You’ll have to conserve your strength; you’ll need it to activate the scepter.”

“Yes, Silvan will need all his energy.” Obron limped over to the wall, his shoulders drooping. “Where do you want to go?”

“Paris,” James replied carefully. He didn’t seem to trust Obron. “A park called Jardin du Luxembourg. A portal south of the entrance on Rue des Fleurs would be helpful.”

Obron created a narrow portal, looking as though he might collapse at any moment. Even without his oath, he represented no threat to them — for the time being.

James quickly stepped through the portal, Marla in his arms. Daniel could see only bushes in the darkness. Mike followed at James’ heels. Daniel took Vanessa by the hand and led her through. They were met by a fresh night breeze that rustled the leaves in the trees. Daniel took a deep breath, trying to get the stench of the underworld out of his lungs. It was dark; only a distant streetlamp offered any light. He could hear the soft noises of a nearby street.

They were on the surface.

Daniel turned around. The portal, which had opened on a large kiosk, was closing. Obron watched them until the door disappeared. Hopefully he would keep his word. Daniel still didn’t quite understand the rules of the underworld, especially the idea that a simple vow could result in consequences as serious as death when broken. But when a demon or a watcher swore an oath, magic was probably at play …

James and Mike were rushing along a gravel path that wound through the darkness like a bright stripe. How late was it? After midnight, definitely. The park was completely empty.

Daniel hurried after them, holding Vanessa’s hand. He still couldn’t believe that their rescue mission had been a success. Reality seemed oddly unreal to him.

“How are you doing?” he asked. “What did they do to you?” He would return to the underworld and personally tear the heads off of each of Vanessa’s tormentors.

As though Vanessa had read his mind, she said, “Do I look so awful?”

Daniel nodded.

“Before you came, they barely took any notice of me. Just pushed me around a little. I was incredibly scared.”

He knew what a bad liar Vanessa was, so her words came as a great relief. However, this feeling was overshadowed by his concern for Marla. As he tried to keep up with James and Mike, Daniel wondered aloud what this place had to do with the Statue of Liberty.

“Don’t you remember?” Vanessa’s voice was still shaky, but not as much as before. “Back in September. History class. There are four smaller statues, all of which are located in France.”

Now that Vanessa mentioned it, Daniel could vaguely remember Kuwalski saying something about it.

They stopped at a clearing dominated by a mighty oak tree. In front of it, lit up by small spotlights, there was a version of the Statue of Liberty, only this one was just a few yards tall. It was exactly like its American sister, down to the smallest detail.

Daniel exhaled, chuckling inwardly. Sirina really was on the wrong track. He could imagine her cursing violently as she searched every corner of the gigantic statue.

Mike kept close to Carpenter and Marla. His heart was still racing in a wild panic. He wondered whether he was trapped in a nightmare. Had he really been in the underworld? Had all that actually happened?

Carpenter came to a halt before the statue, and Mike clutched Marla’s cold, limp hand.

His girlfriend was a demon … Xandros had made a deal with the Guild leaders to get the scepter … Mike’s world had been turned upside down. Where was the line between good and evil? Everything that had happened drifted before his eyes.

When Carpenter asked him where he had gotten the magical glove, Mike answered absentmindedly, “I stole it from my parents.”

He had never suspected that the scrap of fabric might prove to be useful. Mike had felt so abandoned by his parents, who were downright ashamed of their talentless child, that he had simply taken the glove, a completely irrational act. His father, who hadn’t been in active service for a long time, had never noticed the loss. Or he had kept quiet to avoid harming the reputation of his brother, a high-ranking Guild officer. Mike felt tremendously let down by his parents.

His heart seemed to skip a beat. This whole time, he had been watching the Carpenters’ accounts without knowing how important his job really was. If Mike hadn’t eavesdropped on his parents, he never would have known anything about the scepter. But the fact that Carpenter had it …
If they only knew how close I am to the object of their desire!

A few members of the Guild had evidently wanted to find the artifact in order to join forces with Xandros to further their common interests. Were his parents among them? Mike had no idea! He only knew that the scepter was damn important.

The scepter … “Where is it?” Marla needed help right away! It looked like she was worsening. Her face was contorted by pain, and her blood was everywhere.

Carpenter laid Marla at the base of the statue on a thick, knee-high hedge that was trimmed into the outline of a square — a natural mattress. It surrounded the entire stone pedestal.

Marla’s breathing was tortured and increasingly shallow. She had closed her eyes long ago.

Carpenter took a deep breath and leaned his hands on his knees. He looked exhausted. “The staff is hidden in the torch.” He pointed upward. “The flame can be unscrewed.”

“I’ll get it!” Mike felt physically fine, and adrenaline was coursing through his body. He didn’t want to waste any more time. Xandros’ spell worked slowly but surely, so Mike sprang quickly up the pedestal. He pulled himself up by the tablet that Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, was holding in her left hand. In this way, he managed to reach the top of the torch. But the flame wouldn’t budge. Over the years, the metal must have rusted in place.

Mike wrapped his legs around the statue so that he could use both hands to try to open the torch. He jiggled it and tapped on the sides to loosen the oxidized metal, but nothing worked.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Vanessa and Carpenter speaking to Marla, who was showing no signs of life.

Damn it, he had to hurry! “I could use some help here, Taylor,” he choked out between clenched teeth as he pulled at the flame with all his strength. Sweat was running into his eyes, and as the cool breeze blew through his shirt, he realized how wet the fabric was.

“Then get out of the way, Blondie.” Daniel looked exhausted as well. Even in the weak light radiating from the spotlights, Mike could see the circles under Taylor’s eyes.

Daniel reached out a hand and threw a small blue ball of energy at the statue. It hit the flame of the torch, which glowed for a moment and then shattered. Mike quickly turned his head away to avoid getting hit in the face by any splinters of metal. Then he nodded at Daniel, climbed higher, and reached a hand into the outstretched torch.

“There’s something here!” He could feel coarse fabric. Using the tips of his fingers, he pulled it out; he was forced to climb higher to get the proper leverage. The bundle was stuck deep into the hollow cylinder, and was difficult to remove.

The further he pulled out the well-wrapped scepter, the faster Mike’s heart beat. With a final tug, he managed to get the bundle out, almost dropping it in the process. It was really heavy!

“Mike!” Carpenter held out an arm. “Quick! Give me the scepter, but don’t touch it directly!”

“Why don’t I just give it straight to Daniel?” The half-demon was also staring at the bundle, hands outstretched to catch it.

James shook his head, as if coming to his senses. “You’re right, give it to him! I’m not wearing the amulet anymore. I was tempted to take the artifact because I can still remember its power.”

Marla was suddenly overcome by a spasm of coughing. A new wave of blood gushed from her mouth; in the darkness, it looked like tar.

Marla! Oh, God, don’t let her die!
Mike unwrapped the artifact and was seized by a sudden urge to touch it.

As the snake head atop the golden staff emerged from the cloth, the temptation became too great. He had to touch it — it was a compulsion that came from deep within!

“Mike, no!” he heard Carpenter’s voice as if from afar.

Mike’s fingers closed around the scepter, and his breath caught in his throat. In a flash, he felt more alive than ever before! The gold was warm, and the artifact seemed to emit light vibrations. Mike’s hand tingled.

There were hieroglyphs engraved along the staff. Unfortunately, he didn’t understand them all; as a watcher third grade, he hadn’t been allowed to take any advanced courses.

“Mike!” Carpenter called, but Mike barely noticed. He had forgotten where he was and easily ignored Carpenter’s pleading voice. He was focused on the images instead. Vibrant images. Another life was unfolding before his eyes. He was sitting on a throne in a marble hall filled with pillars. Dark-skinned men in loincloths were kneeling at his feet. They were slaves.

Had he been a Pharaoh, or was his mind linked to an Egyptian lord who had abused the scepter?

Suddenly Mike knew what the inscription on the staff meant:
Peret … em-bah netjer … I give my most beloved possession as an offering to the great god, the god of darkness and destruction, so that he will grant my wishes …

Mike’s pulse raced. He could read hieroglyphics! But what was far more astounding, almost causing him to lose his grip on the statue, was that he suddenly knew what his power was: He was a seer! The magical staff had somehow awakened and strengthened his dormant talent!

He agilely leapt down from the statue as new images emerged from his mind’s eye: A watcher had created this artifact. Her name was Anastissa. Kitana, Daniel’s mother, was her great-granddaughter! Anastissa had been killed by her own daughter, and the women of successive generations had guarded the scepter from then on. Only a blood heir could utilize the full power of the artifact.